Method of and apparatus for concentrating oxidized ores by flotation



J. M. CALLOW,J. w. THOMPSON AND J. T TEHRY JR. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATJNG-OXIDIZED ORES BY FLOTAT lON.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1916.

1,334,734. Patented Mar. 23 1920.7

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subject of Great Britain,

Utah, J OHN the ore UNITED sratrns rnrnnr OFFICE.

JOHN M. CALLOW, or SALT LAKE my, U

ARIZONA, AND JOSEPH '1. TERRY, JR,

'ro rm: METALS RECOVERY COMPANY, MAINE.

TAH, JOHN W. THOMPSON, OF SUPERIOR, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNORS OF NEW YORK, N.. Y., A CORPORATION OF METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GONCENTRATING OXIDIZEI) ORES BY FLQTATION.

1,334,734. Specification of Lett rs raise. Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

Application filed November 25, 1916. Serial No. 133,381.

7 '0 all whom it mag concern Be it known that We, JOHN M. GALLow, a residing at Salt county of Salt Lake, State of W, THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing zit-Superior, Pinal county, State of Arizona, and JosnPH T. TERRY, Jn., a citizen of" the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, county of Salt Lake, State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Lake City,

and Apparatus for Concentrating Oxidized Ores by Flotation; and we Clo-hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

i This invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for effecting the concentration of oxidized ores, such as oxid, carbonate and silicate ores, etc. i j

It has been heretofore proposed to effect the concentration of oxidized ores by converting the oxidized constituents superficially into sulfids, and by thereafter effecting the flotation of the sulfidized ore. Such prior proposals, in so far as We aware, have involved a preliminary sulfidation treatment ore in a manner similarto that whichis used in the treatment of natural sulfid ores;

that is to say, the preliminary sulfidized ore has thereafter been mixed with oil, cresol, phenol, or other frothing agents, and sub jected to an aeration and flotation treatment. Y l

We have found that the flotation of oxidized oresoan be promoted by subjecting pulp to a preliminary interinixture with the oil or other frothing agent before the sulfidation treatment, this preliminary frothing-agenttreatment'taking place either during or after the-grinding o'fthe ore pulp.

' The invention ill be described more in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, in Which i Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the novel apparatus of theinvention in which, the novel process of the invention can be practised; and Fig. 2 shows a modified form of apparatus.

In the apparatus of Fig. 1 the ore pulp is fed through the pipe or spout 1 to the teed box 2 of the ball mill 3. The oil or other frothing-agent, in regulated amount, is fed through the pipe 4c from the supply tank 5, and enters the ball mill 3 with the ore pulp. The outlet 6 from the ball mill discharges into the feed hopper -7 of a centrifugal pump or the like 8, which in turn discharges through the pipe 9 to a second centrifugal pump or nuxing device 10. Provision is made for admission of hydrogen sulfid gas or a solution of hydrogen sulfid or its equivalent through the pipe 11 from the generator or storage tank 12, in regulated amount, the sulfidizing agent entering the ore pulp between the pumps 8 andlO or at the inlet of the pum p '10 The outlet pipe 13 from the pinup or mixing device 10 discharges intoa blowing cell Ll and thence into the flotation cell 15%. which is shown as one of the so-callcd Gal low tanks; p

The ore pulp may be one which has been given a preliminary grinding before it reaches the ball mill 3. In this mill a further grinding operation takes place and the oiling of the ore pulp simultaneously takes place, a most intimate intermixture of the oil or other frothing agent and the pulp being effected in this way. The pulp is then subsequently sulfidized by the introduction of hydrogen sulfid or its equivalent and by intimately intermixing said snlfidizing agent with the ore pulp in the centrifugal pump 10 which acts as an etlici'ent mixing device. The

sulfidized pulp is then subjected to a blowing operation in the cell 14 for removing therefrom the excess hydrogen sulfid or such other volatile and removable gaseous constituents as are prejudicial to the flotation treatment. The ore pulp is then discharged into the flotation cell 15 where the 'flotationis effected by the introduction of'air in a finely divided form. through the porous bottom of the cell, the froth formed being removed and recovered in a manner which will be readily understood.

In the apparatus of Fig. 2, the ore pulp enters through the pipe or feed spout 16 into the feed box 19 of a mixing device for mixing the pulp and oil, The oil or other frothing-agent enters through the pipe 18 from the supply tank 17 in regulated amount. The mixing device 20 is shown as a Pachuca 'ta nkin which the mixing is etfected by a strong air current introduced through the pipe 21. In this mixing tankthe pulp is intimately'mi'xed with the oil or other frothing-agent so that the preliminary trothingagent treatment takes place before the pulp is discharged through the pipe 22 to the sulfidizing apparatus. The centrifugal pump or mixing devlce 24 is similar to the pump 80f Fig. l, havin a feed .box'23 and discharging through t e pipe 25 to the centrifugal pump or mixing device 26. Hydrogen sulfid or .other sulfidizing agent is introduced through the pipe 27 and the sulfidized pulp is 'dischargedtrom the mixing device 26 through the pipe'29 to the blowing cell '30 and the flotation cell 31. in the manner above described. I

It will be noted that the ore pulp is given a preliminary intermixture with oil or other frothing-agent before the sulfidation, and that the pulp thus preliminarily treated is subjected to a sulfidation treatment which causes an eflective sulfidationpof oxidized constituents. In the apparatus of Fig.- 2, and the process practised thereimthe frothing=agent treatment of the pulp takes place after it has.been reduced to the required fineness; while in the apparatus of Fig.1 and the process practised therein a simultaneous' grinding and frothing-agent treat- 'ment takes place prior tothe sulfidation;

tially from the procedure above described.

We claim:

1. The method of efiecting the concentration of oxidized ores by flotation which com prises subjecting the pulp to a preliminary mter'mixture with a frothing agent, subjeeti'ng. the pulp'thus treated to sulfidation, and subjectingthe resulting sulfidized pulp to a flotation operation; substantially as described.

2. The method ofeflecting the concentra- I tion ofoxidized ores .by flotation which compriseslsubje'cting the ore pulp to a preliminary grinding operation with simultaneous intermixture therewith of a frothing-agent, subjecting the pulpthus treated to sulfidation, and subjecting the resulting sulfidized pulp to a flotation operation; substantially as described.

3. The method of efiecting the concentration of oxidized ores by flotation which comprises subjecting the pulp to a preliminary intermixture with a frothing agent, forcing the pulp under pressure into a mixiu (levies-and simultaneously inter-mixing therewith a suitable sulfidizing agent, and sub jecting the resulting sulfidized pulp to a flotation operation; substantially as described.

it. An apparatus for effecting the concentration of oxidized ores by flotation, comprising means for preliminarily mixing the ore pulp with a trothing agent, a mixing device of the centrifugal type, means for mechanically forcing the pulp from said prelin'iinary mixing means under pressure into said mixing device, means for subjecting the pulp to sulfidation in said mixing device, and means for effecting the flotation of the thus sulfidized pulp; substantially as described.

5. .An apparatus for eitecting the concentration of oxidizedores by flotation, comprising means for subjecting the ore pulp to a combined grinding and frothing-agent treatment for intermixing the pulp with -frothing agent during the. crushing, a mixing device of the centrifugal type, means for mechanically forcing the pulp from said grinding means under pressure into said mixing device, means for subjecting the pulp to a sulfidizing treatment in said mixing device, and means for effecting the flotation of the thus sulfidized pulp;substantially as described.

(3. An apparatus for ell'ecting the concentration'of oxidized ores by flotation, comprising means for preliminarily mixing the ore pulp with a frothing agent, a. mixing device, means for mechanically forcing the pulp from. said prelnmnary mixing means under pressure into said mixing device,

means for introducing a sulfidizing agent into said mixing device, and means for effecting the flotation oi the thus sulfidized pulp; substantially as described.

, 7 An apparatus for effecting the coucentratlon of oxidized ores by flotation, comprising means for preliminarily mixing the ore pulp with a frothiug agent. an inclosed mixing device of the centrifugal type, means for mechanically forcing the pulp under pressure into said mixing device, means for introducing into the pulp as it enters said mixing device a sulfidizing agent whereby the sulfidizing agent and pulp are simultaneously and together forced into the mixing device, and means for effecting the flotation of the thus sulfidized pulp; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

JOHN M. CALLOW. JOHN W. THOMPSON. JOSEPH T. TERRY, JR.

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